Fairy Stories for all Ages: Tales of the Perilous Realm

Tales from the Perilous Realm

by J. R. R. Tolkien

This book includes five short stories: Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, and Leaf by Niggle. Tolkien's essay, "On-Fairy Stories," is included as well, in the appendix. I had only read Leaf by Niggle before (still one of my favorites).

The tales were fun, but the best part for me was "On Fairy-Stories." Despite hearing references to this essay often, I had never read it. We have had a book of fairy tales or folktales as a read-aloud continually for more than a decade. When we finish one, we just pick up another. And that's not counting the tales my kids read on their own or as part of their lessons.

I actually...don't like fairy tales or even folktales that much personally, but I believe they are an important part of our culture. They reveal something of our human nature, and reading tales from other cultures can show us some things that are universal and other things that are vastly different. For the most part, however, we read these tales because they were recommended by Mater Amabilis back when I was starting homeschooling (and wasn't an advisory board member). I simply accepted the wisdom of those who had gone before.

Reading Tolkien's essay allowed me to spend some time contemplating the fairy story and its place in our homeschool.

Many people, wiser and more thoughtful than I, have written this essay. Dr. Holly Ordway wrote something for Word on Fire. I'm sure there are others. So I won't waste your time by writing something less interesting myself.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I received this book as a Christmas gift many years ago.

January 2025 Book Reports

Some homeschooling moms proposed a bingo card reading challenge for the year. We all picked some categories and made a card. I was inspired and started reading a lot more!

My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Elizabeth Goudge - This was my book club book for the previous month, but our group pushed the date back because of Christmas, so I finished it in January. The beginning seemed slow to me, but it was a comforting read. Goudge writes beautifully of the landscape of Italy, especially around Assisi. I was disconcerted by her style, though. The book is historical fiction, as she imagines St. Francis's life unfolded, but she wrote it like a biography, so I was constantly thinking to myself, "She's just making all this up!" It would have been easier for me if it had been more obviously fictionalized. (purchased copy)

The Little Juggler by Barbara Cooney - We've had this book for many years, and I read it to the children when they were younger. When I realized they didn't remember it, I read it aloud to my teens this Christmas season. This delightful French tale retold and illustrated by Barbara Cooney is out of print, and vastly more expensive than when I picked up a used copy solely because I love anything Cooney and (for a time) bought anything with her name on it. In the tale, Barnaby (also the name of one of Cooney's sons) is a young orphan who knows only one thing, performing acrobatics and juggling, which he does to earn a few coins. In the winter-time, no one wants to watch a juggler, so he is cold and hungry, but a kind monk invites him to the a monastery, where he receives shelter. In imitation of the monks, and in gratitude for the love of God, he performs before a status of Mary and the Christ child as his Christmas gift. God wants nothing more from us than that we return his gifts out of Love. You can more easily find other versions of this tale, like The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola, but Cooney's will always be my favorite. (purchased used)

The Blackbird and Other Stories by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir by Melissa Ohden - Melissa is an abortion survivor. She tells her story of self-destruction, redemption, forgiveness, and hope with great compassion for her mother and all who seek an abortion. (free e-book for Plough subscribers)

The Pearl by John Steinbeck - I read this with my book club. I do not like Steinbeck's books. He writes beautifully, but his characters suffer terribly, both of which are as true of this book as of the others I've read. I dreaded reading this book because I remembered enough of it to know it was tragic. Kino is assaulted on all sides after he finds The Pearl, and his life is destroyed through little fault of his own. I don't think there's a way to read this story and find a way to live or a way to make the world better or the truth of our redemption. (purchased copy)

The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer: How to Pray and Why by Lawrence G. Lovasik - This book gives many examples of the results of productive prayer and examples of actions you can take to begin praying or move more deeply into prayer. I still like The Hidden Power of Kindness better, but this would be a good option for someone interested specifically in prayer. (purchased used)

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup - My daughter has followed the author of this book for a while. I borrowed this book from her to fulfill a Bingo card category for a reading challenge I'm doing with some homeschool moms, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's funny, sweet, and has happy endings for all the good guys and unhappy endings for the worst of the bad guys. It's a good thing I read it when we were still slowing transitioning out of winter break, because I finally just gave up on all the things I should do and read until I finished the book. (borrowed from my daughter, who pre-ordered it)

Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness by Josh Sundquist - The author shares his story with humor and heartfelt thankfulness. I can understand why he made a young reader's edition; there were a few parts with references and language I wouldn't want to share with younger kids, but the story itself is wonderful. The author seems like a down-to-earth, hard-working, fun guy. (You've probably seen his Halloween costumes, even if you don't know who he is.) He endured a year of chem after the amputation of his leg, cancer scares later, and then his mom had chemo for her own cancer. His family is amazing. His faith stays strong, and he is brave enough to seek therapy and treatment when he needs it. Making an Olympic or Paralympic team takes enormous amounts of perseverance, practice, and money, and is worth celebrating, even when an athlete doesn't earn a medal. One of my favorite parts is in the acknowledgments, "I wish to acknowledge my many Winter Park and Paralympic teammates and coaches, all of whom I will never forget, and all of whom will be justified in their inevitable doubts as to whether my short and lackluster skiing career deserves to be recorded in a book."  (PaperBackSwap.com)

33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Divine Mercy Consecration by Michael Gaitley - I read this on the recommendation of a friend. Hopefully I can put some of it into practice. (gift copy from my friend)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - Some of the local homeschool moms came up with a reading challenge bingo game for the year. One of the categories was a classic detective book and this one was recommended. I didn't remember reading it, but had a solid guess for the murderer within a few chapters...which means I did read it before, probably in high school, because I am terrible at guessing the murderer. It was fun to read, though, especially when I was sick and wanted something to distract me without being too heavy. (library copy)

The Father's Tale by Michael D. O'Brien - This enormous (and relatively expensive book) was a book club selection. It was far longer than it should have been. Some paragraphs impressed me, but the writing was not as excellent as one would hope given it's enormous length. In the book, a rather distant father, with sons who seemed shockingly uncaring, abandons his safe life to follow his younger son, fearing he has been caught up in a cult. He travels through Europe and into Russia on his trail. When he's finally about to give up and go home, he's attacked and ends up stuck in Russia after his long recovery. Then he gets stupidly sucked up into international intrigue. Before he makes it home, he experiences a profound closeness with the crucified Lord and learns God may have used him to save oblivious Western countries from Russian military forces, somehow. I was so anxious early on for his son I almost couldn't keep reading, so be assured his son is alright. I'm not entirely sure I recommend this book. There are those moments of insight and brightness...but it's so very very long. (purchased copy)

The Gods of Winter by Dana Gioia - I like to think of myself as the kind of person who reads poetry, but I rarely pick up a book of poems collected, prepared, and published by a single poet. It's a different experience than an anthology, and probably one I don't understand as well as I could. Dana Gioia is a prominent American Catholic poet, so this book seemed a good one to try. I liked some of the poems more than others, but they all made me think. (purchased used)

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - This is a re-read of a book I adored as a girl, and it did not disappoint. It's a lovely retelling! (borrowed First Daughter's copy)

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene - I picked up this book because I suspected it was one I remember from my teens that I haven't been able to identify. It wasn't, and there are some hard parts of the book. Patty is abused and neglected by her parents. She finds solace in the friendship and kindness of an escaped Nazi soldier. (library copy)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - A re-read, and a delightful one. (discovered in a Little Free Library)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliates links.

May 2024 Book Reports

Patterns for Life: An Orthodox Reflection on Charlotte Mason Education by Lisa Rose and Laura E. Wolfe - link to my post (gift copy from Kansas Dad)

The Ghost Keeper by Natalie Morrill - This was a second read (first read here), along with my book club. I enjoyed it as much or more than the first time through. Discussing it with my book club opened up even more thoughts and perspectives for me, so I do recommend reading it with a friend or a group. I haven't given it to my daughter to read. She's definitely old enough (eighteen year old senior), but very busy and tends to read much lighter things in her free time, which is fine with me. Like any book set in the time of World War II, there is violence, child loss, trauma, and heartbreak. (purchased used)

How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson - I heard a poem from this book on the Poetry for All podcast and grabbed it from the library. The poems are set in the 1950s as a young African American girl grows into her early teen years, based loosely on the poet's own life as a young girl when her father was in the Army and they lived in many different places. They are readable and enjoyable, even though they cover some difficult topics. Recommended. (library copy)

The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World by David Robson - link to my post (library copy; then purchased a copy)

The Kate in Between by Claire Swinarski - This is a middle grade novel that explores social media, bullying, friendship, and relationships. It's surprisingly good. Kate is trying to figure out who she wants to be in middle school. Her parents are divorced, but her dad is a steadying and supporting influence. It's probably not great literature, but it does encourage the reader to ask questions about how we live in today's world. (library copy)

Seren of the Wildwood by Marly Youmans - Youmans is the author of Charis in the World of Wonders, one of my favorite books, so I immediately added this book to my wish list. It's a narrative poem intertwining myth and fairy tales. It's wonderful, but also weird and tragic. The book itself is gorgeous, and not just the cover. The poem's stanzas fit on facing pages, or sometimes a single page with woodcut-type illustrations. A well-made book is a treasure in a world that puts so many of our words on screens. My ability to understand or explain the poem is inadequate, but I found some useful and interesting reviews online: Front Porch Republic, Strange Horizons, and The Catholic World Report. I will definitely be reading it again. (received as a gift from my family)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

November 2022 Book Reports

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - I had read this book a few years before we had kids, so it had been almost twenty years when I read it again with my book club. It seemed a little more trite to me this time around, though generally I think the main protagonist is a much more virtuous person than I would have been in her situation. (read free Kindle copy)

Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants by George W. Bush - link to my post (borrowed copy from my dad) 

A Mercy by Toni Morrison - I read this as I was deciding on an African American literature selection for senior year. This book presents the stories of a single 1680s household from the differing perspectives of the master, mistress, and slaves. It is often difficult to read, both because the text can be challenging and because the events are harsh and tragic. Few people of privilege, wealth, or power are portrayed positively. But it is beautifully written. I think a high school senior could read it, though some will struggle in understanding some of the voices. There are also some pointed criticisms of Catholics that, while I think they are valid, would need context for a teenage Catholic reader. That is all in addition, of course, to all the content considerations you might imagine: rape, violence, slavery, witchcraft, intimacy outside of marriage and with people of the same gender, etc. (library copy)

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - This was my second time through this audiobook and I loved it just as much as the first time. I picked up on many more of the jokes this time through because I had recently listened to Jerome K. Jerome's original travelogue, Three Men in a Boat. Back in 2020, I wrote:

This may be my favorite audiobook of all time. I enjoyed every single minute of it, invented chores so I could listen to it, and was both delighted with the ending and sorry it was over. It's a quirky tale of time-travel, Victorian England, the Blitz, and romance, "to say nothing of the dog" (and cat). (purchased from Audible during a sale)

 I'm sure the book is good, but the audiobook is an absolute delight.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - I've never been much of a mystery reader; I can never guess the murderer! But so many people rave about Agatha Christie, I thought I'd give a few of her books a try. I enjoyed this one, though of course I didn't figure out the solution until it was revealed. (library copy)

Leona by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino - I was looking on PaperBackSwap for books by this author because I love her book My Heart Lies South. This little out of print book about a brave but often over-looked woman in Mexico's history was available. It's written at about a middle school level, though the romance means it might be more interesting to older children. I enjoyed it, but I don't know that you have to seek it out. (received from another member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - link to my post (library copy)

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis - I read this with my book club. The story tells of the perseverance of two women left alone in the Alaskan wilderness, the revival of their skills to survive, and the flourishing of their friendship. It's also a story of the healing of family relationships. I added this book to my Geography of the Americas shelf in case any high schoolers want to select it as a free-read (Level 5 or Level 6). (purchased used)

The Yellow Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang - I have read fairy tales aloud to all my kids regularly since the very beginning of our homeschooling journey, but we don't read one every day, or even every week, so it can take a long time to get through a book. Fairy tales seem to be enjoying something of a moment, especially in the homeschooling crowd, but nothing can teach you about the wonderful and the weird as much as reading through a collection from beginning to end. I picked something different to read aloud after this one, but I'm considering returning to the Blue Fairy Book after that because my younger kids don't remember it. (purchased used)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

A Chinese Folk Tale: The Dinner that Cooked Itself

The Dinner that Cooked Itself

by J.C. Hsyu and Kenard Pak

Tuan is an orphan, raised by his kind neighbors. He has grown into a diligent, honest, and respectful young man, struggling to earn enough to marry a young woman deemed perfect for him, according to the characters of their names and the years of their births. One day, he finds his dinner has cooked itself. He eventually discovers it has been prepared by a fairy, sent to reward him and care for him until he can marry.

This is a beautiful book, and not just the illustrations. Even the cover and pages are high quality. They feel lovely in the hands. The illustrations are richly colored. The fairy, for example, sent to bless Tuan with a filling and delicious dinner every night, is wispy and elegant.

Chinese characters appear in the illustrations and are explained on a page at the end of the book.

This is an excellent book to read for China when Reading Around the World in Picture Books.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop are affiliate links. I read a library copy of this book.

An Option for Tales: Grimm's Fairy Tales

Grimm's Fairy Tales

by the Brother's Grimm

illustrated by Noel Pocock

Barnes and Noble hardcover edition

There are thousands of versions of the Grimm's fairy tales available. I found this version on PaperBackSwap. I thought it might be nice to have a color-illustrated hardcover edition of fairy tales for our shelves. I recently finished reading it aloud and wanted to mention it here on the blog because it might be a good option for families with young children who are looking for a whole book just of Grimm's tales. 

Mater Amabilis™ recommends a number of different fairy tale collections in Levels 1B and 1A. We've enjoyed all the ones we've read, though some of them contain more tales than you can read in a year. You can spread them out over multiple years, which is what we've usually done, but you can also just use the selections in the lesson plan charts, which tend to be the best for the ages of children generally at that level. In particular, many of the tales in the Lang fairy books are overly long or sometimes even unexpectedly violent.

This Barnes and Noble edition of the Grimm's tales modifies what I think is the most troublesome tale from Grimm: "Faithful John." In the original, a father kills his two children in order to save the life of a faithful servant. In the Barnes and Noble version, while he is ready to do so, Faith John returns to life without the deaths. I would prefer editions make clear when alterations are made, so I wish there was some sort of a statement on the copyright page about the edit, but I do think the updated version is preferable for children, just as retellings of Shakespeare plays are better at this age than Shakespeare (or, even more so, the modern translations of Shakespeare).

Not that there aren't still strange and sometimes disturbing events in this edition. The Brothers Grimm were not concerned with our modern sensitivities when they recorded their tales. In "Cherry, or the Frog-Bride," a large number of little dogs are thrown into the sea to drown, followed even more disturbingly by a similar number of young women. They are all carelessly cast aside when the most beautiful Cherry appears. My children immediately roared their disapproval, but they were mostly undisturbed. We have learned over the years that fairy tales are not for the faint of heart. They do, however, often make clear what might be hidden by subtleties in society, for there are indeed many instances where an entire group is tossed aside when someone new arrives on the scene. 

Note, I no longer have a Level 1A or Level 1B student. My children are Levels 2, 3, 4, and 6, but we still read fairy tales every week; none of us are ready to give them up.

I received nothing in exchange for this post. I requested our copy of this book from another member at PaperBackSwap.com (not an affiliate link). Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

2015-2016 Fairy Tales

I decided in 2015-2016 to take a break in the beginning of the year from the Flower Fairy Tale Books collected by Andrew Lang. I believe I started with the theme of "beautiful versions of fairy tales I happened to find at our library" and ended with a book on our shelf.

For whatever reason, we struggled to read fairy tales every week during that school year; perhaps I just scheduled too many outside activities. Here are the few we did read.

In 2015-2016, First Son was in sixth grade, First Daughter was in third grade, Second Daughter was in first grade, and Second Son was still a preschooler.

Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp retold by Philip Pullman with gorgeous illustrations by Sophy Williams - I selected this book from our library because I loved the illustrations so much. There are lots of versions of the tale of Aladdin, but I do think this is one of the better ones. We enjoyed it, reading it over a few weeks rather than all at once. It's longer than a standard picture book.

Merlin and the Making of the King by Margaret Hodges with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman - This is another one where there are lots of versions, but I tend to love everything by Margaret Hodges and especially with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. The stories retold by Hodges tend to be ambiguous in the more mature scenes but without just glossing over immoral behavior, so you may want to pre-read anything from her books. I don't have this book on my shelves, either, so I can't quickly skim it to highlight anything particular in this one. I split this one into multiple readings as well. You would want to spend at least a week on each of the four stories.

Melisande by E. Nesbit, illustrated by P. J. Lynch - This is a fun fairy tale with a twist from Nesbit, one of my favorite authors.

The Book of Saints and Heroes by Andrew and Lenora Lang

I have received nothing for this post. Other than the last book by Lang, these were all books I checked out from our library. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

February 2019 Book Reports

Isaac Newton: The Scientist Who Changed Everything by Philip Steele - link to my post (purchased copy).

The Grace of Enough: Pursuing Less and Living More in a Throwaway Culture by Haley Stewart - link to my post (library copy).

The Seashell on the Mountaintop: A Story of Science, Sainthood, and the Humble Genius who Discovered a New History of the Earth by Alan Cutler - link to my post (library copy).

The Electric Life of Michael Faraday by Alan Hirshfeld - link to my post (purchase used).

Katherine by Anya Seton - link to my post (owned copy).

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson - link to my post (copy from PaperBackSwap.com).

The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons from the World's Happiest People by Dan Buettner - link to my post (library copy).

Of Swords and Sorcerers: The Adventures of King Arthur and His Knights by Margaret Hodges and Margery Everden - I've had this book on the shelf for ages and decided this year to dust it off and read it during our fairy tale time. These tales are adapted from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, the Mabinogion, and tales by Howard Pyle. We enjoyed them greatly, including First Son who was coincidentally reading Bulfinch's version of King Arthur's tales at the same time. Be aware there are rather obvious references to Guinevere and Lancelot's dalliances as well as his evening spent with a woman not his wife who consequently gave birth to his son. My kids know that children can be born after people behave together as if they are married even if they are not, so I just read it and kept on going.

Tirzah by Lucille Travis - link to my post (purchased copy).

Opinions expressed in posts are my own. I have received nothing in exchange for these posts. Links to Amazon, RC History, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Chesterton on Nothing and Everything: Tremendous Trifles

Tremendous Trifles

by G. K. Chesterton

This book was recommended as a good one for those new to Chesterton on the Mater Amabilis™ ™facebook page. It's a collection of essays Chesterton originally wrote for a newspaper and selected, for no identifiable reason, to publish as a group. There are lovely descriptions, grand-sounding declarations, and plenty of self-deprecating humor.


In "The Red Angel," Chesterton waxes eloquently on the importance of fairy tales.

Fairy tales, then, are not responsible for producing in children fear, or any of the shapes of fear; fairy tales do not give the child the idea of the evil or the ugly; that is in the child already, because it is in the world already. Fairy tales do not give a child his first idea of bogey. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of the bogey. The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon.

Exactly what the fairy tale does is this: it accustoms him for a series of clear pictures to the idea that these limitless terrors had a limit, that these shapeless enemies have enemies, that these strong enemies of man have enemies in the knights of God, that there is something in the universe more mystical than darkness, and strong than strong fear. 

An afternoon in the country in "Some Policemen and a Moral" leads Chesterton to ponder the moral significance of unequal prosecution. While walking through a wood, he is suddenly seized with an impish desire to throw a knife a the trees. A few policeman respond and inform him it's illegal to do so. Instead of fining him, however, they send him on his way when they learn he's staying with a local lord. Chesterton considers what becomes of a society that lets the rich and powerful (and their friends) off when they do something wrong.

The power of wealth, and that power at its vilest, is increasing in the modern world. A very good and just people, without this temptation, might not need, perhaps, to make clear rules and systems to guard themselves against the power of our great financiers. But that is because a very just people would have shot them long ago, from mere native good feeling.

He considers voting in "A Glimpse of My Country:"

A man ought to vote with the whole of himself as he worships or gets married. A man ought to vote with his head and heart, his soul and stomach, his eye for faces and his ear for music; also (when sufficiently provoked) with his hands and feet. If he has ever seen a fine sunset, the crimson colour of it should creep into his vote. If he has ever heard splendid songs, they should be in his ears when he makes the mystical cross.

In "The Ballade of a Strange Town," Chesterton and a friend are traveling. After an impulsive jaunt on a train, they discover they've caught the wrong train to get back and are instead somewhere else entirely. After racing around frantically to right their mistake (all of which Chesterton enjoys immensely), he says:

"That is what makes life at once so splendid and so strange. We are in the wrong world. When I thought that was the right town, it bored me; when I knew it was wrong, I was happy. So the false optimism, the modern happiness, tires us because it tells us we fit into this world. The true happiness is that we don't fit. We come from somewhere else. We have lost our way." 

I tried to buy a copy of this book. I enjoyed the first handful of essays and wanted to take my time with the rest. (Everyone knows three months' loan from the library is insufficient.) After much searching, I finally decided on the edition of Tremendous Trifles from the On series and picked up a used copy. I was shocked to realize after looking through it for the quotations I wanted to copy into my commonplace book that it only contains 21 of the 39 essays. As it says in the introduction:

Yet in a pretty devastating review, The Times Literary Supplement said that while some of the individual essays 'are often as provocative as they are charming,' their parts 'might be transposed almost indefinitely without detection.' That there is some truth in this charge means we need not be unduly concerned that this volume contains twenty-one essays from the original selection of thirty-nine.

And that's all it says, as if all the essays are interchangeable. I was quite concerned! An editor may want to make an argument for abridging the selection of essays, but it seems a little presumptuous to declare it isn't of any consequence at all. I read the unabridged version, even if it did mean returning it to the library after three months and requesting it again to finish it.

October 2017 Book Reports

Henry V (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare and the people of SparkNotes - link to my post (purchased copy)

Calico Bush by Rachel Field is a book about Marguerite, a French girl bound out to a family that moves to the coast of Maine during the French and Indian War. Marguerite is a Roman Catholic, and derided for being so by the family, but I think this merely serves to show a common prejudice of the time. First Daughter will be reading this in her American History course as independent reading, mostly for fun. (library copy)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo is a fairy tale of sorts. A carefully crafted and much loved china rabbit is separated from his owner. Through trials of his own and of those he encounters, he learns to love. In the end, he's reunited with his original family, a finer rabbit for his travels. I think Second Daughter might appreciate this book as a break from her Little House reading, which is coming along slowly. (library copy)

Augustine Came to Kent by Barbara Willard was one of our world history read-alouds this year, chronicling a young boy's journey with Father Augustine who was sent to England by Pope Gregory. The children enjoyed it greatly. It provides an excellent picture of life in England at the time of his arrival and the kinds of struggles all missionaries face. (purchased copy)

King of the Golden River by John Ruskin is a fairy tale. Three brothers embark on a quest. The older two are greedy and unkind; their journeys end appropriately. The youngest shows sacrifices his own comfort and success, which leads to his reward. (free Kindle version)

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - link to my post (purchased used copy)

Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together so You Can Live too by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish - This is a follow-up book to How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk, a book I've read twice and have found incredibly useful in all kinds of relationships. I found some useful advice in this book, though I've also found it difficult to implement it. It might be easier if I focused on one skill at a time. Still, I'm glad I read it and hopefully I'll be able to adjust some of my behavior to help my children interact with each other. (I did not care for the comparison of a new sibling to a new spouse, but that can be overlooked.) (library copy)

John Paul II: A Personal Portrait of the Pope and the Man by Ray Flynn - link to my post (purchased used copy)

The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh is a weird book depicting a whole cast of characters from the deplorable to the callous to the ignorant. Waugh's sharp wit attacks everyone. Sometimes it's quite funny (in a deliciously nasty kind of way) but sometimes it's just sad. This was a book I picked for our book club, but we haven't had a chance to discuss it yet (inter-library loan copy)

Love in a Fearful Land: A Guatemalan Story by Henri Nouwen - This book tells of Nouwen's journey to Santiago Atitlan three years after the murder of Blessed Stanley Rother. It followed the biography nicely by providing a picture of life at the parish a few years after Bl. Stanley's death. It's a memoir of a trip and therefore intertwines Nouwen's life and feelings with those of the people of the parish and their new pastor. (library copy)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• A Century of Sonnets edited by Feldman and Robinson (May 2017)
• The Complete Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (July 2017), listening with the kids
• History's Greatest Voyages of Exploration from The Great Courses (July 2017), listening with the kids
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (July 2017), listening on my own
• Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time by Frank Cottrell Boyce (September 2017), listening with the kids and Kansas Dad
• Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild (October 2017)
• The Curious Nature Guide by Clare Walker Leslie (October 2017)
• Beorn the Proud by Madeleine Polland (October 2017)
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell (October 2017)

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Try Audible - another affiliate link.

Links to RC History and PaperBackSwap.com are affiliate links. Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

August 2017 Book Reports

Stories of Karol: The Unknown Life of John Paul II by Gian Franco Svidercoschi - link to my post (purchased used)

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf - Woolf says if you want to write a good book, you need peace, quiet, and security; that makes sense. Many of the statements she makes of women writers in her time apply to those who, of any gender or any race, today suffer from a lack of economic resources. (purchased used at a library book sale)

The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge - link to my post (purchased new)

Caryll Houselander: Essential Writings selected and with commentary by Wendy M. Wright - link to my post (interlibrary loan copy)

The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig - This is another possible book listed for further reading in the Level 4 history program at Mater Amabilis™for World War II. Esther was a young child in Poland when she and her parents were forcibly relocated to Siberia. There, they endured hunger, freezing weather, uncertainty, and hard labor. Esther learned Russian and enrolled at an excellent (for Siberia) school, thanks to the patronage of a family friend. As much as she loved her parents, she experiences some trepidation when it is time to return to Poland. This is a lovely story of family and thriving in a harsh environment but there a great shock when they finally learn what has befallen all the family they left behind. This would be an excellent choice for additional reading material. I don't think First Son will bother to read it, but First Daughter certainly will when she's in Level 4. (library copy)


The Shadow of His Wings: The True Story of Fr. Gereon Goldmann by Gereon Goldmann - link to my post (library copy)

If All the Swords in England by Barbara Willard - link to my post (purchased new)

Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery - link to my post (purchased new, probably from the publisher)

D-Day: 24 Hours that Saved the World from the editors of TIME - link to my post (library copy, but I then requested a copy from another member at PaperBackSwap.com)

Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy by Andrea Warren - link to my post (library copy)

Skellig by David Almond - I picked up this book while perusing the library's new books shelf. It's an almost lyrical book telling a kind of modern-day fairy tale. A family moves, the baby came early and is sick, and the boy discovers a creature. Is it an angel? He and a nonconforming neighbor girl (who is homeschooled) befriend the creature and nurse him back to health. It certainly doesn't reflect strictly Catholic doctrine on angels, but I wouldn't stop my children from reading it. Apparently, it's a kind of sequel to My Name Is Mina, but I haven't read that one. (library copy)

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg - link to my post (library copy)

Redwall by Brian Jacques is a thrilling tale of a mouse who fulfills his destiny and helps to defend his abbey. The children loved every minute of it. We had to slow the recording down to about 0.85 so we could understand the narrator's accent, but it was worth it. Having multiple readers handling all the characters helped keep them separate for us as we listened. We listened to this in the van when Kansas Dad was with us. There were quite a few humorous parts that appeal to kids and dads. (full-cast production available on Audible)


Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• A Century of Sonnets edited by Feldman and Robinson (May 2017)
• The Complete Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (July 2017), listening with the kids
• History's Greatest Voyages of Exploration from The Great Courses (July 2017), listening with the kids
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (July 2017), listening on my own
• No Fear Shakespeare: Henry V (July 2017)
• Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing (August 2017)
• The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Fr. Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma by Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda (August 2017)
• John Paul II: A Personal Portrait of the Pope and the Man by Ray Flynn (August 2017)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce (August 2017), listening with Kansas Dad and the children 

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Try Audible - another affiliate link.

Links to RC History and PaperBackSwap.com are affiliate links. Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

September and October 2016 Book Reports

My Badass Book of Saints: Courageous Women Who Showed Me How to Live by Maria Morera Johnson does not have my favorite title. It's a casual-style book written by a familiar Catholic mom blogger (though not one I have read online) that show show specific women saints have inspired her. This book would be a nice one for someone unfamiliar with the idea of saints in Catholic theology as she gives basic background information on all the saints. While I appreciated some of the connections she makes between her life and those of the saints, there are many saint books I like more. One of the unusual aspects of this book is how she often incorporates stories of women who are not (yet) saints, many of whom were new to me like Mother Mary Lange. There were also a few inspiring women who are not Catholic at all. (library copy)

The Drawing Lesson by Mark Crilley - link to my post (review copy from Blogging for Books)

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is the first in a series of books that imaginatively retell the stories of Peter Pan. Those who know the original stories will find many pleasing tips to the originals, but there's plenty to entertain those who are unfamiliar as well. Other than a few unnecessary romantic insinuations between two rather young teenagers (or tweens?), we all found this highly entertaining. I've heard online the later books are a bit darker and maybe not appropriate for younger children so I'm pre-reading them before listening just in case. (audiobook from the library)

American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne includes tales of Davy Crocket, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, Johnny Appleseed, Stormalong, Mose, Febold Feboldson, Pecos Bill, John Henry, and Paul Bunyan. We listened to these tales on audiobook and, though the children enjoyed them well enough, Kansas Dad and I were not impressed. I wish we'd gotten the RC History recommended Jim Weiss CD instead. I think it would have been more enjoyable. Alternatively, we could have read from some of the Steven Kellogg tall tale books, many of which we've collected over the years and always enjoyed. (audiobook from the library)

Riding the Pony Express by Clyde Robert Bulla was one I had on the shelf and decided to read it aloud to the kids when our library didn't have either They're Off or We Were There with the Pony Express, both recommended by RC History. We have and love many of Bulla's books but I thought this one was disappointing. The young Native American in the story is portrayed rather poorly, even given the time the book was written. The library has lots of books on the Pony Express and I would have picked one of them instead if I had read this one myself before reading it aloud. (purchased copy)

The Peterkin Papers by Lucretia P. Hale is the story of the Peterkin family, one which manages to get themselves into scrape after scrape through a lack of commonsense. My children loved listening to these stories, but the inanity lasted longer than my personal preference. (library copy)

Emma by Jane Austen shows a snobish willful girl grow into a slightly wiser more conciliatory young woman. The inanities of life among the landed gentry were never so obvious. The writing, of course, is magnificent. (library book sale purchase)

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Sanna Annukka - link to my post. (review copy from Blogging for Books)

Ivanhoe: A Romance by Sir Walter Scott - link to my post. (requested from another member at PaperBackSwap.com)


Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• Transforming Your Life through the Eucharist by John A. Kane (June 2016)
• My Several Worlds by Pearl S. Buck (August 2016)
• We Worship: A Guide to the Catholic Mass by Father Oscar Lukefahr, CM, with our adult faith formation class (September 2016)
• The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton with my book club (September 2016)
• Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (October 2016)
• Between the Forest and the Hills by Ann Lawrence (October 2016, with the children)
• Simon Brute and the Western Adventure by Elizabeth Bartelme (September 2016) 
• The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis (October 2016)
• The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, with First Son (October 2016)

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order).

Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks - another affiliate link.

Any links to RC History and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

Beautifully Packaged Fairy Tale: The Fir Tree

The Fir Tree 

by Hans Christian Andersen

illustrated by Sanna Annukka

This is a brilliantly illustrated, beautifully bound, new hardcover version of one of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales. 

Right on the cover you can see how the illustrator incorporates multidimensional images with simple geometric shapes. Notice the birds nestled in the branches of the tree.  This is a slightly modified version of what I think is an even better image on the second spread of the book, where the tree and birds are all different shades of green.

The colors on each page reflect the tale, oceanic blues for the sailing vessels, muted blacks and blues for the dark of night, bright reds and oranges for the bonfire.

I think this book would be a perfect gift for the homeschooling mom in your life and perhaps for children as well. It's not a fairy tale with a happy ending, but rather a moral tale of those who are destined to travel through life forever dissatisfied and searching for something new and different. Take a minute to read the tale before gifting the book. Originally I thought I might give it to one of my godchildren for Christmas, but have decided it's a little too depressing for the littlest ones. Either of their moms, however, would love it.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. The opinions above are my own. The links in this post are not affiliate links.

July and August 2016 Book Reports

Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen - link to my post. (Kindle edition)

The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn - link to my post. (book review for Blogging for Books)

The 101 Damatians by Dodie Smith is a delightful story; I'm sorry I never read it as a child myself. This will either be a family read-aloud for us or First Daughter will read it during her independent reading. I'm dismayed the Amazon link says it's "abridged" as the book I read from the library has the same cover, though it doesn't say it's abridged anywhere. I may invest in the Audible book, just to see if there's a noticeable difference. (library copy)

Hilary McKay's Lulu series - link to my post. (library copies)

Julian, Secret Agent by Ann Cameron is an early reader, and one in a series. Julian and his best friend start a detective agency with his little brother and learn it's best not to jump to conclusions. His father takes their escapades in stride and allows them the freedom to explore and investigate in a way that's probably impossible in today's world, but commendable. This will be an option for Second Daughter in her reading aloud to me. (library copy)

A Traveller in Rome by H. V. Morton - link to my post. (borrowed copy)

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford is a humorous easy chapter book about a girl who avoids reading her assigned book the entire summer and the events that transpire the last afternoon. It's not clear to me that Moxy learns or changes much in the short book, though she does eventually read Stuart Little. It's odd that there's a much younger boy (she's 9 and he's 6) who has a "crush" on her, follows her around and does whatever she says, a boy she considers her "boyfriend." For those who are concerned about such things, she does live with her mom and stepfather, though it doesn't say anything about divorce. My girls want to read this book, because they've seen it around the house, and I will let them, but I wouldn't offer it during the school year and I won't mention it's the first in a series. (library book)

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book edited by Anita Silvey is a series of brief essays, some only a few sentences, of a successful person from a variety of careers, though there are lots of writers and illustrators, sharing a childhood memory of a book that impacted their lives. A variety of books are features, not all of them even written for children. Many of the stories reinforce Charlotte Mason's insistence on a broad feast of excellent books, as people draw different strengths and ideas from different books at different times. Each essay includes a full page excerpt, often with illustrations, from the featured book as well as a brief introduction to the book or series (in teeny tiny print) from the editor. One of my favorite stories told how Dr. Seuss had given up publishing his first children's book and was on his way home to burn it when he met a college acquaintance who just happened to be newly assigned to the children's book arm of his publishing house. Book lists appear at the end, but there are others I like more. (library book)

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene - link to my post. (owned copy)

Black Fox of Lorne by Marguerite de Angeli - link to my post. (PDF copy from publisher, complimentary copy of the book when published)

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald is the story of a young boy named Diamond who is befriended by the North Wind. He learns to trust in her even when he knows she sometimes causes what seems to be evil. In our favorite chapter, Diamond observes (and understands) two horses conversing in horse language. The reader in our audio version sounded a bit like a grandmother which was a bit confusing to me when the narrator became a part of the story and was obviously male. The children didn't seem to mind, though, perhaps because they've listened to their mother read just about anything aloud to them. (audio book from Audible)

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look is a early reader chapter book, one of a series about a young Chinese American girl who loves performing magic tricks, adores her brother, and has a delightful family. It's cute and sweet and one I'd be happy for my young readers to enjoy. (library book)

Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott - I started to read this aloud to the kids from my Kindle when we were stranded outside Sequoia National Park. They were drawn in right away by the dog in the first chapter. We finished the book on Librivox. The girls (8 and 9) loved this book the most. First Son, I think, anticipated the ending and found it a little too "girlish" for his taste (though he loved Little Men last year). I found the Librivox reader a little perplexing in her pacing, but the children didn't seem to notice anything odd about it. I hadn't read this one myself before. It was fairly moralistic and the ending was predictable (but I still loved that predictable ending). (free Kindle book, free Librivox recording)

For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay and Towards A Philosophy of Education (Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series) by Charlotte Mason were read with my Start Here book club. We spent nearly 18 months reading through the study and I neglected to take extensive notes on the books. For the Children's Sake is an excellent introduction to Charlotte Mason and her principles. I recommend it for people who are new to Charlotte Mason, especially if her original volumes are intimidating. (purchased copy of For the Children's Sake at some long unknown time and place, purchased used copy of Towards a Philosophy of Education)

Humility of Heart by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo - link to my post. (purchased used on Amazon)

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens - link to my post. (read for free on the Kindle, but I have an old used copy for First Son to read purchased at a library book sale)

Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin - link to my post. (library copy)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne - There was really no way to avoid reading this book, which is really the script of a play. It was weird to read a Harry Potter play. The plot and character development are limited in a script; so much of that happens on stage. Many of the characters seemed like they were there just for show (especially Ron). Kansas Dad had trouble imagining Harry having so much difficulty relating to his son, but I personally think that could be managed. Really, though, I'd prefer to see this play performed. Maybe one day we will. (purchased copy, with a generous gift card from my godparents)

The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith is recommended by RC History for volume 2. First Daughter read it independently and I read it just ahead of her. It seemed to do a good job of describing the trials and hardships of the journey without being too explicit for younger readers. The dog's point of view is also a benefit for more reluctant readers. It does present spirit animals (of a Native American tribe) as real and instrumental in the story, if that concerns anyone. We were fine with that as a literary technique. I linked above to the RC History website (an affiliate link), but the book is also available from Amazon (another affiliate link). (library copy)

Father Elijah: An Apocalypse by Michael D. O'Brien - In this fictional apocalypse, a Jewish convert priest does spiritual battle with an Anti-Christ who has risen to great political power in Europe. What does evil look like in the present world? How are we deceived by evil masquerading as doing good? How do we cultivate faith when the world seems so terrible? There is only minimal resolution in the book and I read recently there is a new book in the series. (parish library copy)

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded by Simon Winchester - link to my post. (library copy)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• Transforming Your Life through the Eucharist by John A. Kane (June 2016)
• Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (August 2016, listening with the children) 
• My Several Worlds by Pearl S. Buck (August 2016)
• The Peterkin Papers by Lucretia P. Hale (August 2016, reading aloud to the children)
• Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott (August 2016, with First Son)

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). 

Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks - another affiliate link.

Any links to RC History and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

Nightmare of Doubt and Dismay: The Man Who Was Thursday

The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton

Gabriel Syme infiltrates the highest council of a society of anarchists as "Thursday" in the first book of Chesterton's I ever read. I'm considering adding Chesterton to the list of authors I must read every year. I sped through the book to follow the plot, but may read it again slowly to savor it more.

At the end of the book is an extract of an article by Chesteron in which he emphasizes the subtitle of the book: "A Nightmare."

It was not intended to describe the real world as it was, or as I thought it was, even when my thoughts were considerably less settled than they are now. It was intended to describe the world of wild doubt and despair which the pessimists were generally describing at that date; with just a gleam of hope in some double meaning of the doubt, which even the pessimists felt in some fitful fashion.

I missed the subtitle myself (it being on the title page but not on the cover, and apparently Chesterton was right to criticize people like me who skip it). The word "nightmare" places the novel apart from those that describe the everyday and the natural world. I'm not sure exactly how Chesterton meant it, but it seems to me like a fairy tale, with all the connotations of those most traditional of fairy tales that disturb modern readers.

The protagonist is thrown at the very beginning into situations of fear and anxiety. Each time he is relieved by a series of events, the doubt and dread rise again.

Through all this ordeal his root horror had been isolation and there are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally. It may be conceded to the mathematicians that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one. That is why, in spite of a hundred disadvantages, the world will always return to monogamy.

In the midst of battles and fear appear descriptions of heightened awareness of the world around Syme.

He felt a strange and vivid value in all the earth around him, in the grass under his feet; he felt the love of life in all living things. he could almost fancy that he heard the grasses growing; he could almost fancy that even as he stood fresh flowers were springing up and breaking into blossom in the meadow -- flowers blood-red and burning gold and blue, fulfilling the whole pageant of the spring.

The nightmare continues as Syme begins to question everything.

Was not everything, after all, like this bewildering woodland, this dance of dark and light? Everything only a glimpse, the glimpse always unforeseen, and always forgotten.

The last few chapters are wonderful, but I don't want to give anything away. The end is both surprising and fitting.

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Every little bit helps - thanks! Our copy of this book has a college bookstore sticker on it, so I'm guessing Kansas Dad read it for one of his classes. Twenty-cough years later, I finally read it.

Reading 2015: A Year in Review

Looking over my posts from the past year to find my favorite books has reminded me how wonderful the best of them were! Hopefully you find inspiration for reading here and not despair at all the length of the list of books you'd like to read.

The book covers below are affiliate links to Amazon. Underneath, I've linked to my book reviews or monthly book report.


Favorite Book of 2015

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Best Fiction

In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden

Best Non-Fiction

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder, edited by Pamela Smith Hill

Best New-to-Me-Author

The Extraordinary Journeys: Around the World in Eighty Days (Oxford World's Classics) by Jules Verne, translated by William Butcher

Best Classic Book I've Never Read Before

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

Best Book I Pre-Read for School

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming

Book that Made Me Laugh

The Little World of Don Camillo by Giovanni Guareschi (and Don Camillo and His Flock)

Best Homeschooling or Education Book

Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass

I also enjoyed Mind to Mind: An Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason and Karen Glass.

Most Challenging

Laudato Si -- On Care for Our Common Home by Pope Francis

Best Book I Read Aloud

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo

"Read aloud" used loosely since we listened to this on audio CD from the library.

Best Memoir

The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures selected by Lee Stetson

Best Biography

The Small Woman by Alan Burgess

Best Sports-Related Book

A Nice Little Place on the North Side: A History of Triumph, Mostly Defeat, and Incurable Hope at Wrigley Field by George F. Will

I gave my dad this book for Christmas and he loves it, too.


Most Surprising (in a Good Way)

1776 by David McCullough

Best Book on Faith

The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home by David Clayton and Leila Marie Lawler

My Other Favorite Books
(alphabetical order by title)

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Helena by Evelyn Waugh

The Long Christmas by Ruth Sawyer

The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children by Sofia Cavaletti

For those interested in even more books lists:
2014 list
2013 list